Snowstorm throws forecasters a curve, causes havoc on north El Paso County roads

A storm that crossed up forecasters with heavier snow than expected swept through the Pikes Peak region Friday, causing havoc for drivers north of Colorado Springs.

About 24 vehicles were involved in a pileup around 10:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 25 near Monument, Colorado State Patrol Trooper Gary Cutler said. No serious injuries were reported.

What had been predicted as a minor dusting turned into a full-blown snowstorm beginning Friday morning.

Areas around Monument got more than 8 inches of snow, National Weather Service meteorologist Klint Skelly said.

“We’ve got so much traffic coming down the roadway at this point that they can’t get the tow trucks in to move some of these vehicles out and it’s backing everything up,” Cutler said Friday evening. “We’ve actually been requesting that everybody avoid the area and we’re asking people if they could exchange info just so we can get the roadway clear.”

A “jackknifed” semi on Colorado 105 was blocking the parallel road west of the interstate, Cutler said.